After (33 page)

She nods.

“If you need anything, just knock, and I'll come back, okay?”

She nods, and John quits the bathroom. Sits on Hope's bed and waits. A few minutes later she comes out, looking small in the big man's t-shirt that serves her for pajamas.

“Did you figure everything out okay?” John asks, and she nods. Getting up, John says, “Sit tight a minute, okay? I'm going to see about finding you a clean bed to sleep in tonight. We'll change your sheets and everything tomorrow.”

Leaving Hope perched on the edge of her bed, John steps into the hall and closes the door. When he turns he comes face to face with Smith. Glaring. Livid.

Holding a handgun.

“Well?” is all Smith says.

“Well, what?” John's voice is quiet. Calm.

“Don't, John.”

“What do you think, Smith? I heard something. Just like you.”

“And?”

“She got her period.”

“Oh. Jesus.” Smith is almost laughing. Strained, relieved laughter without a trace of joy.

“Poor thing. She really thought she was dying. All that blood. It'd be scary enough. But after she probably watched her mom and dad and everyone else she loved hemorrhage to death...”

“But she's okay, now?”

“Yeah. Shaken up, tired, you know. But she's okay.”

“Eva's in there?”

“No. No, I let her sleep.”

“You didn't wake her?”

“She hasn't had a good sleep in days.”

“Hope will need...supplies.”

“She's got them. I took care of it.”

“You?”

“Yes.”

“Don't you think she needs Eva?”

“She's fine. Eva will talk to her tomorrow. But Hope needs a clean bed for tonight.

I was thinking, maybe you should go to Eva's bed. And Hope and I could take your bed.”

“I don't think that's such a good idea, John.”

“What? Letting Hope sleep with me?”

“Don't pretend you don't get it, John.”

“What do you think? I'm going to molest her?”

“You know I don't think that, John.”

“Look. Eva's going to give birth any day. She needs her rest, and she hasn't been getting it. If I take Hope in there, Eva will be up all night. And no way am I leaving Hope alone tonight, after what she's been through. You should have seen her. She really thought she had the disease. That she was dying. I'm not just going to dump her in a strange bed and leave her to her nightmares.”

John goes back for Hope, and takes her to Smith's room. He gets in bed with her, lies back, pulls her close. They fall asleep like that, her head on his shoulder, an arm draped across his belly.

Smith goes to Eva. As he slips under the covers, slides over to curl behind her, she is breathing in the slow, heavy rhythm of deep sleep. The moment he touches her, though, she stirs. Purrs and nestles back against him.

Kissing her hair, nuzzling into her neck, he touches her hand. She pulls it to her mouth, kisses his palm, sighs, “Avery.”

In the dark she turns to him, pulls him to her, seeking his mouth with hers she touches him, caressing all the hot smooth skin her hands can reach, lingering where she feels his body responding to her. His stiffening nipples, his hardening cock. When she pleads, he moves between her thighs, frames her hips between his knees, and goes into her. Seeking each other's mouths, they curl toward each other around the vast swell of her belly.

When Eva wakes as the first sunlight sneaks between the slatted shutters, she smiles at Smith, watching her, smiling back at her. Then she startles, looks around her.

“What's going on?”

“John's with Hope. Everything's okay.”

“Last night...” Eva laughs. “It was kind of surreal. I think I thought we were in your room.”

“I didn't even think you were really awake.”

“No,” she says, “Not really.” Then, “Why the musical beds?”

“Hope got her period.”

“Oh.” She sounds sad. Disappointed. As if she'd hoped the girl would remain a child forever. “And John's with her? She's okay?”

“I think it scared her. When it happened. But John took care of her.”

“Poor thing. God, I should have talked to her. Prepared her. It's not like she's been around a dozen other girls going through that. And she was too young for her mom to have thought of. . . God, she must have thought...” Eva goes pale. Her eyes fill with tears. “She must have thought she was sick. That she was dying.”

* * * *

That night Eva tucks Hope into bed. Then climbs up and lies down, curling up like Hope's mirror image, their knees and foreheads touching. Stroking Hope's soft, straight hair, Eva smiles, and Hope mirrors her smile.

Almost. Hope's smile is bigger. Retains a trace of innocence.

“I'm sorry, Hope. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about your period, before it happened to you,” Eva whispers. “I'm not very good at this. Looking after you. But I'll try to be better.”

Hope's smile lights up again, and she caresses Eva's hair, the way Eva is stroking hers.

“Before, did you have a sister?” Eva asks.

Hope looks at her for a long time. Then turns her head back and forth. Just as she did for John the night before. This is new.

“Me either. But you and I can be sisters. Do you like that idea?”

Another smile. And this time, a nod.

“I'll try to be a good big sister to you. I'll try to tell you the things you need to know. And if you ever want to know something, if you can figure out a way to ask me, I promise you I'll tell you the truth. And if you're ever afraid, or hurt, no matter what it is, I'll do my best to help you.”

Then Eva goes quiet, just gazing at Hope wistfully.

“You remember, when I go into labor, when the baby's ready to come, Diego and Evan are going to look after you for a day or two?”

Hope nods.

“You like them, don't you?”

Hope smiles. Nods.

“You won't be scared, not having me and the Major and John for just a couple days?”

Hope gives Eva a brave smile and shakes her head.

* * * *

Eva and Hope and Riggs leave the mess hall. Riggs is flushed and his light brown hair is darkened with sweat. Even more than usual, Hope is smiling, her forehead dewy, her cheeks pink. They proceed slowly across base, toward the mansion, Eva stepping carefully, balancing her body against the weight of her heavy belly, Hope gingerly holding the boom box that Riggs has agreed to let her carry.

“You two are going to have to put on a show for everybody, when you iron out those last couple of rough spots,” Eva says.

Riggs buries his hands in his pockets. “I don't know about that. Sure is fun, though, watching her. She picks everything up so fast.”

Hope beams up at Riggs.

“James.” Eva stops, her face blanched. Hope and Riggs halt.

“Is it the baby?” Riggs asks.

“I think. I think maybe...” Eva's voice is tight. A moment later she pants. Laughs.

“Ouch,” she says, smiling down at Hope. “I guess we'd better get me back to the house,” she says, her breathing evening back out.

Riggs put his arm around her waist, and they start walking again. A few moments later Eva halts, muffles a whimper behind bitten lips. When the spasm passes, when the color starts coming back into her face, she says to Riggs, “I thought there'd be more time between contractions, at the beginning.”

He looks scared out of his mind, but he says, “Don't worry, Eva. We'll have you back at the house in a couple minutes, and I'll get John and the major for you. Don't worry.”

When she's caught her breath, they move on a few more steps. Then Eva stops again.

“Another one?” Riggs asks.

Eva shakes her head.

Ahead, off to the right, Lott is leaning back against the wall of the barracks building, watching them. A moment later, the door to the barracks entrance opens, and Baldwyn emerges. From where they're standing, Riggs and Eva can see Lott say something to Baldwyn, can see Baldwyn's gaze fix on them. Ignoring the cement path, cutting across a rectangle of lawn, Lott and Baldwyn head toward the trio. Eva looks around. No one else is in sight.

“James. I want you to take Hope with you. Get Smith.”

Riggs looks from her to Lott and Baldwyn, and back to Eva's face, contorting under a fresh spasm of pain.

“Eva, no, I can't just leave you here like this.”

“I'll be okay. You'll get Smith, I won't be alone for long.”

Riggs casts another glance at the men by the barracks. They're already a quarter of the way to the trio.

“James, please. Get Hope out of here.”

“Okay.”

Riggs squats down. “You know where Major Smith's office is?” he asks Hope.

When she nods, he says, “I'll race you there. Here, lets give this to Eva.” He takes the boom box from Hope. Rises. “Just so she doesn't make a fuss,” he whispers to Eva.

“Soon as we're gone, leave it.”

To Hope, then, “Ready? Set! Go!”

They take off running, Riggs letting her pull ahead, keeping her in his sights as they dash toward Smith's building. Eva starts walking again, until a fresh spasm shakes her. As she pants, eyes watering, Lott and Baldwyn draw nearer.

* * * *

As Smith is quitting his office for the day, he catches sight of Hope, copper hair streaming and bouncing, cheeks flushed, fists balled, running full-speed. When she sees him, her eyes go wide, seeking, pleading. And then, rounding the corner, bearing down on her, his face hard, determined, Riggs.

Smith charges forward, and as Hope lunges for the safety of his arms, he sweeps her aside and back, and hurls himself at Riggs, thrusting him against a wall and pinning him there with a forearm pressed to his throat.

Eyes blazing, chest heaving, Smith looks down at Hope. She is turning her head, over and over, no, no, no, tugging at Smith's sleeve and pointing desperately toward the setting sun.

Smith lessens the pressure on Riggs's windpipe and asks, “What?”

Hoarse and panting, Riggs answers, “Eva's in labor.”

A warm smile blooms on Smith's face.

“We gotta hurry,” Riggs says. “Lott and Baldwyn were hanging around.”

“Where is she?” Smith doesn't waste time asking the inessential things, like,

“How could you leave her alone?”

“We were just past the barracks, on our way back to the house from the mess.”

“I'll find Eva. You get John. He should be at... Fuck. His shift's long over. I have no idea where he is. Look. Get Vallar. He's cooking for mess tonight. We'll find John after we get Eva and Hope settled.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Riggs reaches for Hope's hand.

“Hope will come with me,” Smith says, stepping between them and taking hold of Hope's hand.

“Sir—“

“Now, Corporal!”

“Yes, Sir.” Riggs sounds defeated. Deflated. But he turns and heads off at a run.

“Come on, Hope.”

Hope gazes up at Smith, her eyes wide and reddening. She tugs her hand free of his, but sticks by him as they rush toward the house.

* * * *

“Your friends sure took off in a big hurry,” Lott drawls as he intercepts Eva.

She locks eyes with him. “I seem to be in labor. They went to get Major Smith.”

“Damn! The big day is finally here, then!” Lott says, a big, bright smile lighting up his boyish face. “You hear that, Baldwyn? Eva's about to have her baby!”

Baldwyn says nothing. Just levels a dark look at Eva.

“Well, here,” Lott says, “let us help you, 'til the cavalry comes.”

He pries the boom box from Eva's clenching grip and hands it to Baldwyn.

“Here, Eva, put your arm around me.” Lott draws her hand across his shoulders, curves an arms around her waist. “That better?”

“Yeah” she pants. “Thanks.”

Eva lets Lott walk her along, toward the house, Baldwyn flanking her other side, carrying the boom box. Eva manages a calm expression, which distorts every few minutes when a contraction hits. But as they near the house, she glances around more and more frequently. When they reach the steps of the mansion, Eva halts.

“Come on, Eva. We'll get you inside. Take you upstairs,” Lott says, grinning.

“No. I just want to wait for John and the major here,” she says.

Lott leans in close, whispers by her ear, “Eva, darlin'. You don't need to be scared of me and Baldwyn taking you up to your room. All I mean to do, Eva, is to look after you until your men come to take care of you.”

Eva meets Lott's gaze.

“The last thing I want to do is go upstairs and shut myself in that room the second my labor's starting. I'm going to be stuck in there long enough, when things really get serious. I'll stick with the fresh air, for now.”

“Suit yourself, little Eva.”

Her eyes sweep the perimeter, trying to penetrate the fringe of trees.

“Don't be anxious, Eva. Much as Riggs might like to take advantage of a few minutes alone with that rosy little fairy child, I don't think even a chance to drag her into some shed and making a woman of her would deter him from his present mission. He's too eager to be a daddy. Isn't he? I'm sure he's runnin', hard as he can for the major.

'Cause even though Riggs gets out of line from time to time, he looks up to the major.

Riggs likely figures that Major Smith can deliver babies just as good as he can orchestrate battles.

“'Course, then again, Riggs ain't so much of a thinker. Is he, Eva? To his mind, there isn't much to it. Women are made for having babies. So if he takes his time, all that'll happen is Smith will be a few minutes late lighting up a celebratory cigar. No reason why a little thing like that should put him off a few minutes of fun with Hope.

“She's so warm, so trusting, I bet that sweet child would smile up at him right until he got inside her and the pain let her know he was takin' something from her. Hurting her. Has she said one word since she's been here? I wonder if that little girl can scream?”

“Your scenario would be a lot scarier if it wasn't so obvious that you know Riggs would never hurt her.”

Lott laughs. “Damn, girl. This is why I like you so much. Even sweatin' and wincin'

with your childbirth pains, even with your little fairy child and Riggs together, and clean out of sight, you got such spunk.”

Lott moves in close, until they can feel the warmth of each other’s bodies, and whispers, “I know how much Riggs wants to be good. But even Riggs himself don't know that he won't hurt that girl, so quiet, so full of trust and love, lookin' to give it to everyone who comes near.”